Fluid flow location identification positioning system, method of detecting flow in a tubular and method of treating a formation

ABSTRACT

A method of detecting flow in a tubular includes disposing an identifier within a component, the component including a seat configured to receive a plug member thereon, the identifier disposed separately from the seat; arranging the component within the tubular to position the identifier at a selected location within the tubular; flowing fluid through the tubular and subsequently through the component within the tubular and past the identifier within the component; releasing at least trace amounts of the identifier into the fluid when the fluid flows past the identifier; and detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in the fluid at a location uphole of the component.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/547,719, filed Nov. 19, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Tubular systems often have multiple openings through which fluid can flow and thereby commingle with fluid already flowing within the tubular. Regardless of where such flow enters the tubular it may be beneficial for an operator to know whether or not fluid is flowing through a particular portion of the tubular. Positioning flow measuring devices and the telemetry to communicate readings from the flow measuring devices though effective may be overly complex for some applications. Simple systems and methods that allow one to determine such things are therefore of interest to those who practice in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A method of detecting flow in a tubular includes disposing an identifier within a component, the component including a seat configured to receive a plug member thereon, the identifier disposed separately from the seat; arranging the component within the tubular to position the identifier at a selected location within the tubular; flowing fluid through the tubular and subsequently through the component within the tubular and past the identifier within the component; releasing at least trace amounts of the identifier into the fluid when the fluid flows past the identifier; and detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in the fluid at a location uphole of the component.

A method of treating a formation includes setting a plug having a seat within a tubular; plugging the plug with a plug member on the seat; treating a formation uphole of the plugged plug; removing the plug member from the seat; producing fluid through the plug; releasing at least trace amounts of an identifier positioned separately from the seat and within the plug with fluid flowing therepast; and detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in produced fluids produced through the plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 depicts a partial side cross sectional schematic view of a fluid flow location identification positioning system disclose herein; and

FIG. 2 depicts a side cross sectional view of a frac plug or bridge plug employable in the fluid flow location identification positioning system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIG. 1 an embodiment of a fluid flow location identification positioning system disclosed herein is illustrated at 10. The system 10 includes, at least one component 14, 16, with two being illustrated that are attachable within a tubular 22 at any user selectable locations 18, 20 within the tubular 22. The selected locations 18, 20 require no special preparation within the tubular 22. The system 10 also includes at least one identifier 24, 28 with two being illustrated herein that are in operable communication with the two components 14, 16. The identifiers 24, 28 are configured to be eroded by fluid flowing therepast, such that at least trace amounts 34, 38 of the identifiers 24, 28 are releasable into fluid that erodes the identifiers 24, 28. The at least trace amounts 34, 38 are detectable in fluid downstream of the identifiers 24, 28. This detection allows an operator to determine whether any fluid is flowing past the identifiers 24, 28 and necessarily that fluid is flowing past the locations 18, 20 of the identifiers 24, 28 within the tubular 22.

Concentrations of the identifiers 24, 28 within fluid can also be measured to provide quantitative data. By configuring the identifiers 24, 28 to be eroded at a rate that is proportional to flow rate of fluid therepast, flow rates of fluid can be determined by measuring the concentration of the identifiers 24, 28 within fluid at a downstream location 42. By making the identifiers 24, 28 different from one another fluid flow rates 44, 48 past each of the identifiers 24, 28 (and thus past the locations 18, 20) can determined separately. If, for example, in the illustrated embodiment with just the two identifiers 24, 28, concentrations of the trace amounts 34, 38 measured at the downstream location 42 were identical then the fluid flow rates 44, 48 must be the same. Or, stated another way, there must be no additional fluid flow being introduced to the tubular 22 between the first location 18 and the second location 20.

If, in another scenario however, measurements taken at the downstream location 42 reveal that the concentration of the first identifier 24 is half the concentration of the second identifier 28 it can be determined that the fluid flow rate 44 is half of the fluid flow rate 48. Then it is a simple matter to proportion the total flow rate 50 at the downstream location 42 according to the proportions flowing by each of the locations 18 and 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a plug such as a frac plug or bridge plug, for example, employable within the fluid flow location identification positioning system 10 is illustrated at 60. The frac plug 60 is settable within the tubular 22, shown in this embodiment as an open hole (although the tubular can be a casing or liner as illustrated in FIG. 1), within a borehole 64 in an earth formation 68 in a hydrocarbon recovery or carbon dioxide sequestration application, for example. The frac plug 60 has slips 72 that can anchor the frac plug 60 to the tubular 22 in response to radially expanding while being axially moved relative to a cone 76. A seal 80 is also radially expandable into sealing engagement with the tubular 22 in response to being axially moved relative to the cone 76 or relative to a second cone 84. An optional retainer 88 can hold the slips 72 engaged with the tubular 22 by preventing axial movement of the slips 72 in the opposite direction than the direction that caused the slips 72 to radially expand. It should be appreciated that this frac plug 60 can be positioned anywhere along the tubular 22 since no features are required within the tubular 22 for setting of the frac plug 60 within the tubular 22. The frac plug also 60 includes a seat 92 that can be sealed by a plug 96 run thereagainst. Once the plug 96 is seated pressure can build upstream of the plug 96 to allow for treating, such as acidizing, for example or fracturing of the formation 68.

The frac plug 60 provides a platform for positioning the identifiers 24, 28 at the locations 18, 20 along the tubular 22. The identifiers 24, 28 can be separate elements positionally retained by the frac plug 60 as is shown in the illustrated embodiment by a radially groove 98. Alternatively, the identifiers 24, 28 can be positioned in grooves, openings or cavities, for example, in one or more of the slips 72, the cones 76, 84, the seal 80 or the retainer 88, or other component of the frac plug 60. For example, the identifiers 24, 28 can also be positioned within other functional parts such as set screws 100, shear screws and rings, and locking rings (not shown), to name a few. In another embodiment the identifier can be integrally incorporated into one or more of the components 14, 16, 60, 72, 76, 80, 84 and 88 such that the one or more components 14, 16, 60, 72, 76, 80, 84 and 88 including the identifier incorporated therein are eroded simultaneously.

The embodiment of the frac plug 60 illustrated herein has a smallest radial dimension 102 that is quite large in comparison to a radial dimension 106 of walls 110 of the tubular 22. The ratio of the smallest radial dimension 102 to the radial dimension 106 of the walls 110 may be set to be within the range of about 70 to 80 percent. The large flow area through the frac plug 60 allows for significant flow rates through the frac plug 60 while creating little restriction. As such, hydrocarbon recovery applications, for example, can leave the frac plug 60 in place within the tubular 22 while producing hydrocarbons therethrough. In fact, the frac plug 60 can remain within the tubular 22 for the life of the well thereby negating any loss of production that might result during any downtime of the well while the frac plug 60 is milled or drilled out from within the tubular 22.

Regardless of where specifically the identifiers 24, 28 are positioned, they can take one or more of several different forms. The identifiers 24, 28 can be cloth, for example, and come in various colors, or they can be elastomeric, clay, or even one or more of constituent materials that are compressed or sintered together. As long as the identifiers 24, 28 can be readily eroded by fluid flowing relative thereto and then detected in the fluid downstream, any material may suffice. Additionally, orienting the identifiers 24, 28 relative to fluid flowing therepast to promote erosion of the identifiers 24, 28 might facilitate the identifiers 24, 28 being eroded at a rate proportional to the flow rate of fluid therepast.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of detecting flow in a tubular, the method comprising: disposing an identifier within a component, the component including a seat configured to receive a plug member thereon, the identifier disposed separately from the seat; arranging the component within the tubular to position the identifier at a selected location within the tubular; flowing fluid through the tubular and subsequently through the component within the tubular and past the identifier within the component; releasing at least trace amounts of the identifier into the fluid when the fluid flows past the identifier; and detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in the fluid at a location uphole of the component.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising concluding that the fluid is flowing past the identifier by detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in the fluid.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring concentration of the identifier in the fluid.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining a flow rate of the fluid past the identifier at the location based on the measured concentration of the identifier.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing the fluid through the tubular past the identifier.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a first identifier and the selected location is a first location, and further comprising: positioning a second identifier at a second location within the tubular; flowing the fluid through the tubular and subsequently past the second identifier; releasing at least trace amounts of the second identifier into the fluid when the fluid flows past the identifier; and detecting the at least trace amounts of the second identifier in the fluid.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining a flow rate of the fluid past the first identifier separately from determining flow rate of the fluid past the second identifier.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the component is a first component, and further comprising a second component, the second identifier disposed within the second component, and positioning the second identifier at the second location within the tubular includes arranging the second component within the tubular to position the second identifier at the second location within the tubular.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is a frac plug or bridge plug, and further comprising positioning the identifier within a groove, opening or cavity of the frac plug or bridge plug.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein disposing the identifier within the component includes disposing the identifier at a set screw within the component.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the component within the tubular includes using an attachment device on an exterior surface of the component to attach the component within the tubular, and disposing the identifier within the component includes disposing the identifier on an interior surface of the component.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the component has a flow through area configured to produce fluid therethrough, and further comprising retaining the component and the seat within the tubular during production of hydrocarbons through the flow through area.
 13. A method of treating a formation, comprising: setting a plug having a seat within a tubular; plugging the plug with a plug member on the seat; treating a formation uphole of the plugged plug; removing the plug member from the seat; producing fluid through the plug; releasing at least trace amounts of an identifier positioned separately from the seat and within the plug with fluid flowing therepast; and detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in produced fluids produced through the plug.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising measuring concentrations of the identifier in fluid.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining fluid flow rates past the plug with the measured concentrations.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifier is positioned at an interior surface of the plug and downhole of the seat.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifier is positioned at a set screw in the plug.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifier is retained in a groove, opening or cavity in the plug.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein a smallest radial dimension of an inner radial surface of the plug is about 70 to about 80 percent of a radial dimension of the tubular.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plug is a first plug, and the identifier is a first identifier, and further comprising: setting a second plug having a seat within the tubular; plugging the second plug with a second plug member; treating a formation uphole of the plugged second plug; removing the second plug member from the seat of the second plug; producing fluid through the second plug; releasing at least trace amounts of a second identifier, which is different than the first identifier and which is positioned within the second plug, with fluid flowing therepast; and detecting at least trace amounts of the second identifier in produced fluids produced through the second plug. 